VOL. V., NO. 15. riXEIIUPtST, N. C. FEB. 21, 1902 PIUCE TIIKEE
CENTS
SPEAKING OF READING.
A Little Detailed Information Regarding the
Pinehurst Circulating Library.
A CONVENIENT READING ROOM.
Pinehurst 1ms been called repeatedly a
model town, and to the careful observer
who visits or live3 in it, its right to
being classed as such becomes daily
more and more apparent. Its many
advantages have frequently been set
forth in these columns, but this time it
is purposed to call attention to two co
related attractions that are certain to be
of interest to everybody the circulating
library and the free reading room.
The clientele of Pinehurst is distinc
tively a cultured one, a class that reads
and discriminates as to what it reads.
To meet and satisfy the demands and
requirements of just such a discrimi
nating class of readers the Pinehurst
library was established and is operated.
Established in the fall of 1898 with a
complete selection of the very best
standard and current fiction, in addition
to an extensive selection of standard
miscellaneous works by recognized
authorities on special subjects, it has
since grown steadily in size and com
pleteness, until now the books in active
circulation number about 1200. This
number may not appear large, but on
examination of the recently issued cata
logue, it is found that fully ninety-five
per cent of the books catalogued may be
fairly classed as current literature; this
fact materially changes the relative
apparent completeness of this collection
as a living, circulating library, as con
trasted with those libraries whose cata
logues include thousands of standard,
classic, special and reference works,
which are rarely, if ever, read except for
reference or especially desired informa
tion. Carefully taken memoranda demon
strated from the first year of its exist
ence that the patrons of the Pinehurst
library were almost exclusively in
search of current literature, principally
fiction, rather than the classic, or what
might be termed pedantic reading. The
season for this choice is plainly appar
ent. People come to Pinehurst for
recreation and rest. Here labor and
work, as a rule, are forgotten and laid
aside and the visitor, in the great major
ity of cases, seek relaxation, amusement
and repose ; so, if he is wise, he chooses
his literary food accordingly, and as a
result, that literature which treats of
adventure, experience, love (the ex
haustless theme) and all the varied
phases of real human, social life, as con
trasted with the likewise real, but tem
porarily forgotten and abandoned, busi
ness or work-a-day life, is the literature
that the change-seeking, rest-requiring
resorter choo.ses and prefers to read.
The policy adhered to in Pinehurst
from the first was to provide in it just
what its patrons most desired and
needed. So, in the library, the same
rule having been carefully followed, are
found today all the best and most popu
lar works of standard and current fic
tion, to the comparative exclusion of the
heavier works that elsewhere are seldom
and here never read. A close compar
ison with the reports of sales of books
recently published will show that the
demand for the same books in the Pine
hurst library is relatively the same.
Mrs. Harry Redan, librarian, states that
the calls for books justify their being
named in the following order: "The
Eight of Way," by Gilbert Parker;
"D'r'i and I," by Irving Bacheller;
"Truth Dexter," by Sydney McCall;
"The Man From Glengarry," by Ralph
Connor; "Kim," by Rudyard Kipling,
"The Cavaliers," by George W. Cable;
and "Blennerhasset," by C. F. Pidgin.
"Black Rock" and "Peter Ster
ling," by Paul Lester Ford, and
"Via Crucis," by F. Marion Crawford,
are also frequently called for. The
works of Charles Dickens, George Eliot,
Marie Corelli and other writers of fiction,
equally far apart in style, are also asked
for frequently, and readily supplied.
The number of books taken from this
library daily is somewhat surprising.
The average daily number is about 90,
and on dull and rainy days the number
frequently exceeds 100. The charge or
expense is trifling, being only two cents
per day for each volume. The revenue
derived scarcely pays the actual running
expenses of the library, but that is a sec
ondary consideration, the first one being
the conforming to Mr. Tufts' original
idea to provide in Pinehurst all the
advantages and conveniencies of a mod
ern city at a minimum of cost. The
library is located in the drug department
of the general store, and is open from S
a. m. until 7 p.m. daily. New books
are always ordered as soon as the read
ing public and reviewers have passed on
their merits, and every book thus
approved is always to be found in the
Pinehurst library.
The public reading room in the Casino,
between the Holly Inn and the Harvard
Hotel,is another interesting place, which
may in a sense be said to be auxilliary to
the circulating library. This depart
ment is in charge of Mrs. F. II.
McAlpine, and here may be found nearly
all the leading current magazines and a
number of daily papers. This reading
room, which is absolutely free to Pine
hurst guests, is on the second floor of
the Casino building, and consists of two
large, comfortably heated and well
lighted rooms, which are open to all
from 8 a. m. until 10 p. m. In addition
to a large variety of miscellaneous maga
zines and newspapers the following
ones are regularly kept on file : Scrib
ner's, McC lure's, Munsey's, Frank Les
lie's, Country Life, World's Work, Har
per's and Century, New York Journal
American, Boston Herald, Washington
Post and Philadelphia Press. These
newspapers are received daily and the
magazines regularly as issued.
This information is published for the
benefit of all those who may not be
aware of the existence of these two very
desirable institutions, and in the hope
that it may be of interest and benefit to
all who desire to keep "up-to-date" in
current literature.
The Village Ball.
The first village ball of the season
took place last Saturday evening at Vil
lage Hall, and was well attended. The
Holly Inn orchestra furnished music,
and an excellent time was enjoyed by
all. Another ball will be given in the
near future.
Holly Inn Festivities.
A large and enthusiastic coaching
party left the Holly Inn, Friday, Feb. 14,
for a cross country drive. Mr. Hyde
handled the ribbons of the four like an
expert, and everyone participating had a
very enjoyable time.
Saturday evening, Feb. 15, was de
voted to games, the most interesting of
which was a potato race, in which a
large number of guests participated.
The prizes were won by Miss Whiting
and Mr. Gray.
Saturday night, Feb. 22, will be de
voted to a masquerade ball in the music
room, and many entries are now
arranged for this event which promises
to be of much interest.
Next Sunday Evening Concert at the
Hotel Carolina.
The following programme will be
given next Sunday evening at 8 p. m.,
when the orchestra will be assisted by
Mrs. II. St. John Smith, of Portland,
Maine :
Grand March From "Tannhauscr" Wagner
Overture "Mirella" Gounod
Vocal Solo "The Holy City" Adams
Mrs. St. John Smith.
"Echoes from the Metropolitan Opera
House" Arr. Tobani
Flute Solo "Salterello" German
Mr. Dole.
( a "Lohengrin's Verweis An Elsa 1 irrnnnaK.
b "Pilgrim Chorus" (Tannhauser) J wagner
Vocal Solo "O Promise Me" De Koven
Mrs. St. John Smith.
Hymn "God Be With You" Tomer
A Pleasant Whist Party.
The employes of the Berkshire hotel,
in company with a number of invited
guests, passed last Monday evening very
enjoyably in the ever interesting game
of progressive whist. The first lady's
prize was won by Miss Lillian M. Foster,
the second by Miss Kate Fitzgerald.
The lady's "booby" prize fell to Miss Kose
Cary, and Mr. C. A. Warwick captured
the gentleman's "booby" token. lle
freshments were served and all present
thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Messrs.
Fred Potter and Ed. Hall were the
hosts.
Valentine Party.
Mrs. Anna D. Spence of the Haw
thorne cottage entertained a number of
friends at a Valentine party the evening
of the fourteenth. Progressive hearts
was the game. The prizes and refresh
ments were appropriate to the occasion.
First prizes Mrs. Furbish and Mr.
Hooper; consolation prizes Miss
McEnnis and Mr. Chesterton. After
refreshments were served Mrs. Spence
recited "My Valentine," "Kentucky
Philosophy" and "That Old Sweetheart
of Mine."
Mrs. Morehouse will be at Holly Inm
Friday and Saturday with art needle
work and materials for lace work and!
embroidery.
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